Physiology: Henry's law, gas solubility & oxygen transport in blood

Question 1

what is henry’s law

Answer 1

the amount of gas that will dissolve in a given liquid is proportional to the partial pressures of the gas at equilibrium with the liquid

Question 2

what effect does partial pressure have on gas solubility

Answer 2

as the partial pressure of the gas increases then the conc. of gas in the liquid will increase proportionally

Question 3

what 2 ways is O2 transported in blood

Answer 3

dissolved O2(not much) in the blood and O2 binding to haemoglobin in RBCs(most of O2)

Question 4

what is the normal O2 conc. in arterial blood, at normal arterial Po2 and haemoglobin conc.

Answer 4

200 ml per litre

Question 5

describe how O2 binds to haemoglobin

Answer 5

one O2 molecule reversibly binds to each of the 4 haem groups of haemoglobin

Question 6

what is the primary factor in determining % saturation of haemoglobin with O2

Answer 6

Po2(partial pressure of O)

Question 7

describe the shape of the O2 haemoglobin dissociation curve

Answer 7

it is a sigmoid shape

Question 8

what is the significance of the flat upper portion of the O2 haemoglobin dissociation curve

Answer 8

means that moderate fall in alveolar Po2 will not have much effect on O2 loading

Question 9

what is the significance of the steep lower part of the O2 haemoglobin dissociation curve

Answer 9

means that peripheral tissues get a lot of O2 for a small drop in capillary Po2

Question 10

what is the Bohr effect

Answer 10

shift of the dissociation curve to the right

Question 11

what does the Bohr effect mean

Answer 11

that there is increased release of O2 by the tissues